Nigeria Welcomes Home Thousands After Decade in Refugee Camps

Families separated for over a decade are reuniting in northeastern Nigeria as thousands of refugees return from Cameroon to communities devastated by insurgent violence.

Senator Ali Ndume praised President Bola Tinubu and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum this weekend for successfully bringing home Nigerians who fled to Cameroon's Minawao refugee camp during the height of Boko Haram attacks. The voluntary repatriation represents years of collaboration between the Nigerian government, Cameroon, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The returning families aren't just coming back to rubble and memories. Governor Zulum has restored electricity to Gwoza Local Government Area, which had been dark for more than ten years after insurgents destroyed power infrastructure. Senator Ndume, who represents the region, said the lights coming back on fulfilled a promise the governor made during a ceremony last year.

The resettlement extends beyond infrastructure. Communities like Wala Village in Gwoza are welcoming back neighbors who left in 2017 when violence peaked. The tripartite agreement signed in Yaoundé guarantees these returns are safe, dignified, and completely voluntary.

The Ripple Effect

This homecoming signals a turning point for northeastern Nigeria after years of conflict. When refugees return to find working electricity and government support waiting for them, it sends a powerful message to others still displaced. The framework established through this partnership could serve as a model for reintegrating the thousands of Nigerians still scattered across neighboring countries.

Beyond the infrastructure wins, these returns rebuild the social fabric torn apart by violence. Children who left as toddlers are now teenagers meeting grandparents for the first time in their ancestral homes. Markets are reopening, schools are filling with students again, and communities are finding their rhythms after a decade of disruption.

The collaboration represents months of careful planning between federal and state governments working with international partners. Former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau led the Nigerian delegation that hammered out the agreement, which included then-Governor Kashim Shettima, now serving as Vice President.

Every family that crosses back into Nigeria proves that recovery is possible even after the darkest chapters.